Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

abbot

1 American  
[ab-uht] / ˈæb ət /

noun

  1. a man who is the head or superior, usually elected, of a monastery.

Abbot 2 American  
[ab-uht] / ˈæb ət /

noun

  1. Charles Greeley, 1872–1973, U.S. astrophysicist.

  2. Also Abbott a first name.

abbot British  
/ ˈæbət /

noun

  1. the superior of an abbey of monks

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • abbotcy noun
  • abbotship noun
  • subabbot noun

Etymology

Origin of abbot

First recorded before 900; Middle English, variant of abbat, from Latin abbāt- (stem of abbās ), from Greek, from Aramaic abbā; replacing Middle English, Old English abbod (compare Old High German abbat ), from Late Latin abbād- for abbāt-; Abba 1 ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"People are facing many economic hardships," said the abbot, U Thudassa.

From Barron's • Mar. 26, 2026

“I am looking forward to the silence finally stopping, because 54 years of silence is a long time,” said Bishop Kassianos of Aravissos, the abbot of the seminary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 1, 2025

Mr Shi, who has been Shaolin Temple's abbot since 1999, has earned the nickname "CEO monk" for transforming the institution into a global brand.

From BBC • Jul. 28, 2025

And at the closing ceremony, Yeo-am, the temple’s abbot, offered some parting words of wisdom.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2024

“Do not doubt, as I did,” the abbot said, his voice gentle, his eyes honest as ever.

From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.